Artist page

Ken Nordine (April 13, 1920 - February 16, 2019) was an American voice-over and recording artist known for his dramatic baritone and unique storytelling style. Born in Cherokee, Iowa, he gained wealth through voice-overs for television and radio commercials. However, his true passion lay in creating "Word jazz," a form of improvisational poetry delivered in a silky voice over cool, vibrant musical accompaniment. Nordine riffed on a wide range of subjects, including colors, time, spiders, bullfighting, and outer space. His innovative work brought him renown on radio and led to collaborations with notable artists such as Fred Astaire, Jerry Garcia, Laurie Anderson, Sonny Rollins, Billy Vaughn, Tom Waits, and Dead Man Ray. He passed away in Chicago, Illinois.

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